Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I can give two assurances, one of which is about the way papers are marked. Difficult papers are marked more easily and easy papers are marked harder because there is a way by which grades are distributed.

I give that reassurance to students, parents and teachers. The grades for maths exams will be similar to what they have been in previous years. A hard paper is marked more easily. Certainly, when the exams are over, I know the State Examinations Commission will want to examine all the papers and see what can be learned for future leaving certificate exams.

I thank Deputy Higgins for reminding us this is Carers' Week. This Government has made a lot of important steps forward to help carers in recent years by, for example, increasing the carers' allowance and relaxing the means test. We have also increased funding for the disability care allowance and the carer's support grant. We have extended the GP visit card to everyone in receipt of the carer's allowance. The next step the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, is working on is a State contributory pension for carers, which will give them a bit more financial security in retirement. One area of real difficulty that was touched on by the Deputy is the ability to recruit and retain staff for the community disability teams. That is an enormous challenge that I know the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, is working hard to address. She will provide further updates to the Deputy in writing.

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